Mutharika’s motorcade in road accident: Several people injured

A convoy belonging to Malawi’s former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) President, Peter Mutharika, was Wednesday night involved in a road traffic accident that left several people injured.

The accident occurred along the country’s main road- M1 (LIlongwe-Kasungu) – around 18:00hrs in Dowa District where the opposition politician was conducting whistle-stop campaign meetings with several of his party’s politburo.

Chief Security Officer for the DPP leader, Taulosi Norman Chisale, confirmed the incident but said the vehicle carrying his boss was not involved in the accident.

Chisale said the accident happened after their driver lost control of the wheel leading into a head on collision with a commuter minibus heading towards Mponela Trading Center in the district.

Peter Mutharika: Unhurt

The security officer said only three people who he was travelling with in the same vehicle escaped with not-so-serious injuries.

Mponela Police Spokesperson, Kondwani Kandiado, said he was yet to be furnished with the details of the accident, which happened near Mtengoumodzi.

But reports also indicate unspecified number of passengers who were in the minibus also got injured and were rushed to hospital.

The DPP leader and presidential candidate was in Dowa conducting meetings where it launched an outspoken attack on President Joyce Banda’s administration calling on it to address the country’s looming hunger instead of wasting time on political witch-hunting.

Among the party’s senior members present at the meetings included Vice President Hetherwick Ntaba, former cabinet ministers Dr Jean Kalilani and George Liwimbi.

It is not yet clear whether, due to the accident, the DPP leader would continue with his whistle-stop campaign tours as this Saturday, 10 August, he was also expected to visit Mvera (Dowa), Siyasiya and Thavite (Salima) and Benga, Chisoti and Linga in Nkhotakota district.